Test series can easily be lost in a single session, as Australia were reminded of at Trent Bridge during last year's Ashes.
And in a two-Test series, like the one about to play out in New Zealand over the next fortnight, there is even less wiggle room to recover from a calamitous collapse.
"Being such a very short Test series, we've got to start really well," Mitch Marsh told AAP.
"We obviously know they're going to be tough in their conditions. New Zealand are a very good side and have proven it over the last 12 months.
"They're very good at home so it's going to be tough."
Marsh, speaking prior to his controversial dismissal in the recent ODI at Hamilton, added that Australia should nonetheless be upbeat about their chances of winning the series.
"We certainly should be going into these Test matches very confident in ourselves," Marsh said.
"We've got a lot of experience now .. we've got a very balanced side.
"While paying a lot of respect to New Zealand .. there's certainly no reason not to be confident for this series."
David Warner echoed Marsh's thoughts on the eve of the first Test, which starts on Friday in Wellington.
"You've always got to be confident," Warner said.
"We've got a goal and that's to win the series. Obviously disappointed with the one-day series, but it is what it is."
Australia lost the trans-Tasman ODI series 2-1.
"They've had a lot of success in Test cricket in recent times, you can't read too much into what happened in the one-day series," NZ spearhead Tim Southee said.
Southee missed all three ODIs because of injury but is expected be fit for the Test series opener at the Basin Reserve.
Australia paceman James Pattinson, who returned from a shin niggle last week in the Sheffield Shield, impressed in the Basin nets on Wednesday.
"He's probably one of our fastest bowlers on this trip. He really wants to take that onus upon himself," Warner said.
"We know what he can do in these conditions, he can swing it, he can seam it and he does have the pace."
Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood are certain starters for the first Test, while veteran Peter Siddle is likely to get the nod ahead of Jackson Bird and Chadd Sayers.
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